The Prevalence and Factors Associated With Substance Use Disorders Among Patients at Habeeb Neuropsychiatry Hospital in Mogadishu Somalia

Abstract

Background: Substance use is indeed a significant public health issue globally, and it can have serious health, social, and economic consequences. In conflict-affected and resource-constrained countries like Somalia, studying and addressing substance use can be particularly challenging. Somalia has experienced prolonged conflict and political instability, which has diverted resources and attention away from public health concerns, including substance use. However, the burden of substance use has not been exhaustively investigated in Somalia which presents the gap that this present study seeks to bridge. The purpose of the study: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with substance use disorders among patients at Habeeb Neuropsychiatry hospital in Mogadishu Somalia. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and predictors of substance use in patients seeking care at Habeeb hospital in Mogadishu Somalia. Consecutive sampling technique was used to collect data from 106 patients. The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was used to collect data on substance use. Data from the study was coded into SPSS for analysis. Frequencies and measures of central tendency and dispersion were used to summarize the data. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done using binary logistic regression. Data was presented in Charts and tables. Significance was investigated at p<0.05. Results: The prevalence of substance use disorder was 73.6%. Amphetamine type stimulants (speed, diet pills, ecstasy, Khat/Miraa) (68.1%), Tobacco products (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.)(38.7%), Sedatives or Sleeping Pills (Valium, Serepax, Rohypol,)(21.7%), Cannabis (marijuana, pot, grass, hash, bhang)(20.8%), Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, spirits] (10.5%) while there were no cases of cocaine (coke, crack, etc.) and Hallucinogens (LSD, acid, mushrooms, PCP, Special K,). Being employed, family history of mental illnesses and family history of substance were independently associated with substance use disorder. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions addressing these specific risk factors to effectively reduce substance use disorder rates.